Pen and Paper Test Used in New Alzheimer's Screening

2 years ago

An estimated 5-million Americans are battling Alzheimer’s Disease, but by 2050, those numbers will nearly triple. Doctors say if it’s caught in the early stages, they have a better chance of treating it. The problem is, most patients don’t see a doctor until it’s too late.

Dr. Douglas Scharre and five researchers of the OSU Wexner Medical Center spent five years developing the simple pen and paper test.

In that time, they tested more than 1,000 patients and found that nearly a third of them showed early signs of cognitive problems. By repeating the test from time to time, doctors now have a cheap and easy way to monitor their patients and detect even slight changes in their cognitive ability.